Clothes-pin.



I PATBNTED NOV. 5, 1907.

5-. J. CONRAD. CLOTHES PIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-.1, 1908.

' INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.-

' TTORZVE Y5 ELIJAH JOSEPH CONRAD, OF COALPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOTHES-PIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed August 11 906- s 3281821- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAH JosErH German, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Ooalport, in the county of Clearfield and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Pin, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clothespins, and has for itsobject to produce a simply constructed device of this class of increasedefficiency and utility.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction as hereafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are designated by like characters ofreference, is illustrated a preferred form of embodiment of theinvention capable of carrying the same into practical operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 is a front view, ofthe improved device applied, or in closed position. Fig. 3 is a sideview, partly in section, of the improved device in open position. Fig. 4is a partial side elevation of a modified form of the device. Fig. 5 isa side elevation of a modified form of clothes pin adapted moreparticularly for hanging up carpets and similar heavy articles.

The improved device comprises two jaw members lO-11 having sockets 1213near one end to receive a roller 14 and bearing upon opposite sides ofthe same. The jaw members are coupled by links 15-16 at opposite sides,the links being pivoted at 17-18 to the jaws and bearing over the endsof the roller and preventing displacement of the same. The roller andthe pivoted links thus coact to produce an eflicient and freely movinghinge or joint between the jaws. Formed in the adjacent faces of theshorter ends of the jaws are recesses 1920 for bearing over the oppositesides of the clothes line, indicated at 21, and the garment suspendedtherefrom, a portion of the latter being indicated at 22. A longitudinalslot 23 is formed in the longer portion of the member 11, and pivoted at24 within this slot is a cam lever 25, the bearing face 26 of the leverbeing adapted to engage the inner face of the longer portion of themember 10 and distend the longer portions and compress the shorterportions firmly 7 upon the line 21 and the garments 22 thereon when thecam lever is disposed in one position, as in Fig. 1, in which adjustmentof the lever it is locked against movement, and release the jaws whendisposed in another position, as shown in Fig. 3. The free end of thelever 25 is formed with a cavity 27 to provide a finger grip to assistin releasing the lever.

In the modified form of the device shown in Fig. 4, the fulcrum on whichthe jaw members 10 and 11 move is composed of an approximatelysemi-cylindrical knuckle 28 integral on the member 10, and acorrespondingly shaped socket 29 on the member 11 in which the knuckle28 engages. This construction has the advantage of being simpler andcheaper to manufacture than the first form. In some instances it may beadvantageous toround the tips of the jaws, as indicated at 30.

Fig. 5 shows a double jaw clothespin which embodies the principles ofthe previously described constructions and of the ordinary clothespin incommon use. The members 31 are hinged together at points intermediate oftheir ends and the upper portions 32 of the members form jaws that areset and held closed by the lever 25. The handle ends 33 of the members31 form jaws that are adapted to grip the articles 34 on the line 35 bypinching over the same in the same manner as an ordinary clothespin. Thejaws 33 are prevented from opening to too great an extent by reason ofthe jaws 32 being in contact, as shown, said latter jaws forming stopswhen the jaws 33 are distended. The inner or opposed surfaces of thejaws 33 are provided with recesses 36 into which the line and objecthung thereon can be pressed. This modified form is intended for use moreparticularly for hanging out carpets, blankets, or other articles ofunusually great thickness.

All the parts, except the pins 17-18 and 24 and links 15-16, arepreferably of wood, but all the parts may be of metal, if required.

It will thus be obvious that a very strong and durable device isproduced, which may be inexpensively manufactured, and which operateseffectually for the purposes described.

What is claimed is:-

1. A clothes pin comprising a pair of jaw members havinga roundedfulcrum connection, both of said members being provided withapproximately semi-circular recesses. for engagement with a clothes lineor similar support, a pair of links extending across the plane of thefulcrum, pins extending through the links and the jaw members, saidlinks serving to prevent independent lateral play or movement of themembers, a lever pivotally connected to one of said members and havingat one end a cam head to engage the opposing face of the other member,substantially as specified.

2. A clothes pin comprising opposing jaw members having approximatelysemicircular recesses for the reception 5 of a clothes line or othersupport, the inner edges of said members being further provided withsemi-circular grooves at a point beyond the clothes line receivingrecesses, a

roller fitting Within said grooves and forming the fulcrum point of bothjaw members, apair of links extending 10 across the axis of the rollerand serving to prevent lateral displacement thereof, pivot pinsconnecting the links to the jaw members, and a cam lever carried by oneof said jaw members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafilixed my signature in the presence of two 15 Witnesses.

ELLTAH JOSEPH CONRAD.

Witnesses B. F. HILL, JosEPH W. GILL.

